Has anyone seen any concern yet on the US/China "Trade War" regarding the volume/cost of Chinese violins and accessories? I already have a life time supply, but it would be sad if students (and their parents) were restricted from access to these instruments in the future as a result of this mess.

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Without deviation from the norm, progress is not possible. —Frank Zappa

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Fiddlerman

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August 9, 2018 - 8:25 pm

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The only thing that we have noticed is that Rosewood is hard to get a hold of. Prices have raised slightly but not much. So far things are still good with instrument trade with China.

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October 5, 2018 - 4:01 am

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Brazilian rosewood is banned now, isn't it. I think India may be the main source now, but FM's people will know more than me.

We can derive comfort perhaps that in politics the words usually count for more than the actions (although that's not problem-free, as mere words can affect speculative markets). A lot of people vote for someone who says what they want to hear, not for anything the politician actually does.

But I'm sure this forum is politics-free, which is one of its strengths. Chinese exports are mostly shipping-free to boost their trade, I think.

Andrew

Fiddlerman

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October 5, 2018 - 7:21 am

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We still have places in which we can purchase good rosewood fittings but it's more difficult. On the other hand, we have a few wood fittings that we didn't use to have.
Even though Pernambuco, also from Brazil, is scarce, we have Pernambuco fittings. Also, Paduk wood. However, and this is embarrassing, I can't locate them on our site. Will have to fix that.

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October 5, 2018 - 7:58 am

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Fiddlerman said
We still have places in which we can purchase good rosewood fittings but it's more difficult. On the other hand, we have a few wood fittings that we didn't use to have.
Even though Pernambuco, also from Brazil, is scarce, we have Pernambuco fittings. Also, Paduk wood. However, and this is embarrassing, I can't locate them on our site. Will have to fix that.

I read somewhere that the good pernambuco wood became extinct about 100 years ago, so the bows made from it all have antique value and are expensive. Maybe that's oversimplified, but it's also the situation with koa in Hawaii. There are modern koa ukes, but they aren't the same as the antique koa ukes.

Andrew

Fiddlerman

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October 5, 2018 - 10:17 am

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There is a certain amount of truth to that but not completely. We have a Brazilian guy working for us in Brazil. The trees still exist and still grow even though they are scarce. Also, there are plenty of people who collect and stock the wood. Lastly, 100 years is very exaggerated.

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Irv

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October 9, 2018 - 7:51 pm

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It has been a strange month and a half on eBay regarding Cecilio/Mendini violins. Items of interest appear to be slowly coming back.

Research is what I’m doing when I don’t know what I’m doing. —Werner von Braun

Without deviation from the norm, progress is not possible. —Frank Zappa

Experience is a difficult teacher, it gives the test first and the lesson after.